Information for Recommenders
Applications for Marshall Scholarships must be submitted to and endorsed by an accredited US University.
Letters of recommendation will be requested by e-mail when the candidate submits the letter request online.
Instructions received by Candidates
The application gives the following information to candidates about letters of recommendation:
" You should state the names of three persons who can supplement the required Letter of Endorsement by providing further details as to your qualifications. The first of these should be designated the Preferred Recommender and this recommender should have supervised your college or university training. The general recommendation must be provided by an academic. At least two of these recommenders should be in the United States."
The Candidate must provide email addresses for all of their recommenders. Their letters of recommendation can be requested individually before they submit their application, any letters not requested in this way will be requested automatically when they submit their application to their institution. They will be able to see when their letters have been submitted, but the contents of these will not be made available to them online. NB. The institution will not be able to submit the candidate's application to the regional committee without all of the letters of recommendation.
Submitting the Letter of Recommendation
To access the secure "recommenders" section of the Marshall application system you will be sent a url. Once you login you will be given a form which will allow you to type or copy and paste your recommendation in, you will also be able to view a copy of the candidate's full application. Please note that the word limit for the letter of recommendation is 1000 words, a word count facility has been provided. Once you have completed the letter you must submit it electronically in a timely fashion. A deadline will be provided with the request for the letter.
If a candidate is selected as a Marshall Scholar, you will be sent a second e-mail with a pdf of your letter attached. We ask that you print this on headed paper, sign it and mail it to the address provided in the e-mail. We ask again that you do this in a timely manner.
The following is the advice provided by the Marshall Commission on the contents of the Letters of Recommendation:
"Please use the form provided for a letter of recommendation commenting on the candidate's general fitness for the course proposed and the suitability of the university chosen as well as considering how they meet the Commission’s criteria of Academic Merit, Leadership and Ambassadorial Potential. Confidential observations, negative as well as positive, on the candidate's general character as well as academic standing and ability will be of great value to the selection authorities in their task of deciding which candidates should be summoned to the Regional Centre for interview."
In appointing Scholars the Selectors will look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders and as contributors to improved UK-US understanding. Assessment will be based on academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential. We ask that you consider our criteria when completing your letter.
The Selectors will also look for adequate preparation for the proposed course of study, particularly in the upper-level course work and real strength in the major field. Preference will be given to candidates who combine high academic ability with the capacity to play an active part in the life of the United Kingdom university to which they go, and to those who display a potential to make a significant contribution to their own society.
If you have any problems or questions please contact apps@marshallscholarship.org